The C2 Corvettes Of Barrett-Jackson/Scottsdale-What Did They Bring?

Long ago, when Bill Mitchell and Larry Shinoda penned the four-wheeled masterpiece that became the C2 Corvette, little did they know the “planned obsolescence” that normally was baked into Detroit cars of the sixties would somehow elude this generation of Corvette.

They were also unaware that they were more than just talented designers, ultimately leaving behind a body of work that would cement them in the history books as the “DaVincis of Detroit.”

More than 50 years later, the C2 Corvette has impossibly, gotten better with age. Barrett-Jackson/Scottsdale 2017 results are in and Mitchell and Shinoda would probably get quite a fright at what these proletariat sports cars are now bringing at auction.

Arguably, these results might be exuberant, but Barrett-Jackson/Scottsdale has the star power to bring out the best cars in the world and the crowds weren’t dissapointed.

Check out these three rare C2 Corvettes and see what they brought as the gavel fell.

Lot #1393 – With VIN 9046, this 1963 Corvette split-window Z06 tanker is powered by a 327/360hp “Fuelie” with a four-speed manual transmission. It’s finished in Sebring Silver with a black interior. It has been body-off restored by Naber’s of Houston and is in pristine show condition.

It’s won multiple NCRS Top Flight Awards at regional in January 2013 and October 2012. Bloomington Gold Certified (Appears OEM) in June 2012, it also won Best in Class awards from Santa Fe Concorso in September 2012 and Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance in November 2012. Additionally, it was on display in the National Corvette Museum in 2013 with letter of appreciation.

Options include power brakes, power windows, T-10 transmission, 4.11 posi-traction, Z06 heavy-duty brakes and special heavy-duty suspension, N03 36-gallon gas tank, radio delete, aluminized off-road exhaust, tinted glass, hubcaps and 6.70×15″ blackwall tires. One of only 199 RPO Z06 Special Performance package Corvettes and one of only 63 N03 Big Tank Corvettes built in 1963.

This former Eric Gill car from the 1970s has history and old photos back to 1969-70. It’s documented with volumes of research and show data. It’s also been editorialized many times, as far back as 1977. The restoration receipts total $138,000 and all show awards, certificates and judging sheets come with it. With a production date of February 18, 1963, it was delivered new by Kardon Chevrolet of Mt. Holly, NJ (dealer code 343 in zone 15), per the official NCRS/GM Shipping Data Records (SDR). Looks, runs and drives like new.

They’re only original once and this is a killer. If you like ’em stone stock and pure as wind driven snow, here’s one for you. The knock offs are probably not original to the car, but who cares when it looks like this.

The St.Louis factory is long shuttered and most of the workers and suppliers are gone as well. Original, unmolested Corvettes are the only trace of their toil. What remains are these cars. At $137,500 this old ’63 might have been a bargain.

Lot #1363 – Five fuel-injected Z06 Big Tank Corvettes were GM-assigned to legendary racer and team manager Mickey Thompson during 1962. Researched, confirmed and documented by Corvette expert David Burroughs’ Prove It service, this vehicle was the personal driver of Mickey Thompson.

Extremely rare, this is one of 63 N03 Big Tank 1963 Corvette Sting Ray coupes with RPO Z06 racing option. Restored and presented in period appearance, including lettering and Rader wheels. RPO Z06 Special Equipment Package based on fully independent underpinnings, the new ‘Vette formed an outstanding basis for the race-bred RPO Z06 enhancements including a thicker front stabilizer bar, larger diameter shock absorbers and higher rate springs.

Braking was improved with greater fade resistance from sintered metallic brake linings, while a dual-circuit master cylinder and vacuum booster enhanced safety and reduced pedal effort. Priced at $1,818, RPO Z06 cost nearly half as much as the basic Corvette coupe. The large capacity RPO N03 fiberglass 36-gallon fuel tank was tailor-made for endurance races to reduce the need for frequent pit stops. Just 63 Corvettes were so-equipped.

Corvettes equipped with RPO Z06 were only available with RPO L84 327ci V8 with 360 rated horsepower, courtesy of sophisticated Rochester mechanical fuel-injection, 11.0:1 compression, free-breathing cylinder heads, low-restriction exhaust and a hot solid-lifter camshaft. A Muncie M20 4-speed transmission and posi-traction limited-slip rear end were mandatory options with RPO Z06. To reduce unnecessary weight, some Z06 Corvettes left the St. Louis factory with their radios deleted.

All told, 2,610 Corvettes were equipped with the RPO L84 “Fuelie” engine for 1963. Just 199 were equipped with the RPO Z06 Special Performance Equipment package, and only 63 were specified with the RPO N03 36-gallon long range fuel tank. This 1963 split-window Corvette coupe is one of those precious few, and it is even more special with confirmed and documented provenance as the daily driver of Corvette racing team owner Mickey Thompson.

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